from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 74

Transcribed and edited by Dr Roger Peters

Full text available at

Between 1908 and 1916, John Stabb, an ecclesiologist
and photographer who lived in Torquay, published three volumes of
Some Old Devon Churches and one of Devon Church Antiquities. A
projected second volume of the latter, regarded by Stabb himself as
a complement to the former, did not materialize because of his
untimely death on August 2nd 1917, aged 52. Collectively, Stabb's
four volumes present descriptions of 261 Devon churches and their
antiquities.

CRUWYS MORCHARD. Holy Cross. This church serves as the private
chapel of the Cruwys family, who have owned the Manor House
adjoining from at least the time of King John [1199-1216].

The church consists of chancel, nave, south aisle, south porch,
and an embattled west tower with six bells, dating from 1721 to
1765. The church was struck by lightning in 1688, when the steeple
was shattered and the bells melted. The principal object of
interest in the church is the fine Georgian chancel screen of
Corinthian design [plate 74]; the
type is uncommon in Devonshire, the only two in any way resembling
it being those at Ermington and Washfield. This and the parclose
screen are well carved, and in a good state of preservation. Over
the chancel doorway is the crown resting on a cushion. There are
return stalls in the choir.

The following is from Prince's Worthies of Devon:-

"As for the church, the old being wholly destroyed, and the
present built about the 20th King Henry VIII [i.e., 1529], there
are no vestigia or tracts found of any ancient monuments. And
before the late conflagration by lightning (which happened A.D.
1689, so dreadful that it rent the steeple, melted the bells, lead,
and glass, nothing escaping but the Communion plate), there were
only orates for some of the family with the coats of arms intinged
or painted on the glass. Some of this family very likely were the
founders of the Antient Parish Church, which they endowed well with
glebe lands which, with the tythes thereunto belonging, makes the
rectory amount to an hundred and sixty pounds per annum clear."

The following letter found in Cruwys Morchard House, and dated
Monday, 18th February 1688, gives an interesting account of the
fire:-

"The Parish Church of Cruwys Morchard, in County Devon, was
totally consumed by fire, enkindled by lightning, in the spire or
steeple thereof, melting the bells, lead, glass, nothing escaping
but the silver Communion plate. At eleven Sunday evening John Copp
passed by the churchyard, saw nothing of the fire. About 12 or 1
next morning Mr. Podger being sick in Morchard House, and not able
to sleep, heard two or three extreme violent claps of thunder, with
lightning, which he fancied was different from what was common,
because it did not seem to vanish as usual, but rested or shined
for some time. About two hours after he heard a rapping crackling
noise, and at last judging it to be fire, he got up, and found the
upper part of the steeple burnt and fallen in, and the remaining
part burning very furiously. The Church itself, as yet untouched,
he got what hands he could, and by throwing a great deal of water,
saved the porch, and by help of a long cornpike with spaves turned
downward after they have forced the doors, they drew out the chest
all in flames, where the Communion plate was, some of which began
to be discoloured, and the wind was strong in the west, and blew
directly over Morchard House. It was computed by all that were
present that the sparks of the fire flew as far east as Morchard
Mill. That there were three very violent claps of thunder about
midnight, and that a storm of snow or hail had fallen which
discoloured the ground. That all of the bells which hung in the
steeple about the tower (the frames being placed at the top of the
framework) were melted where they hung, because a great deal of the
melted metal was found at the top of the tower, down the sides of
the walls, and that they melted (at least some of them) by the
shape in which the metal was found. That they dug three or four
feet into the earth and found a great deal of metal sunk into it.
That they dug three or four feet into the earth under the belfry
and found a considerable quantity of metal. That the evening when
they were ringing several boys were up in the tower, and he
himself, when there was a vast amount of combustible matter, as
sticks, straw, etc., which had been brought thither by the choughs
and if they had any candles there - the clappers were melted and
small pieces of the brims of the bells. 'Tis reported that someone
at present unknown at Withleigh, in Tiverton, saw when the fire at
the top of the steeple appeared no larger than a man's hat. The
steeple was built with a bandment of extraordinary massive timber.
The axel and . . . covered with wood, had been lately new done, as
was the Church. John Copp positively affirms that he himself, after
he had made a path by throwing much water, ran into the Church and
took up the Chalice and Paten, and brought them out in a bucket.
That the chest in which they were burnt abroad, and found the plate
among the coals, but the basin was melted, the foot of the chalice
burnt as well, the Church all fallen in, but he himself ran into
the Church for the plate."

I am indebted for the above to the kindness of Mrs. Cruwys, of
the Manor House.

There are monuments to the Averay and Cruwys families, and a
brass to William Stone, of Bath, who left a considerable
benefaction to the parish.

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